Friederich w



(No Model.) P.- W. POLLE. VENT FOR LIQUID REGEPTAGLBS.

Patented Oct 25, 1892.

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, Mom 101138,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRIEDERICH \V. POLLE, OF WVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VENT FOR LlQUlD-RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,816, dated October25, 1892.

Serial No. 429,628. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIEDERIOH W. POLLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at WVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Vents for Liquid-Receptacles; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of ventplugs used for beer-kegs andsimilar receptacles for holding effervescing liquids.

A particular object sought to be accomplished is to improve upon myprior patent, No. 284,47 9, granted September 4, 1883. The mechanism ofthis prior patent, while working successfully, soon wore out because ofthe contact of the valve-actuating pin with the valve, for as the pincame in contact with the soft rubber of which the valve was made itwould gradually wear the valve, so that in a little while the latterwould fail to make a tight fit against its seat. In my present devicethis defect has been overcome by employing the peculiar mechanism andcombination of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed outin the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a view showing myimprovements applied to an ordinary beer-keg. Fig. 2 represents avertical section of the vent-plug and its mechanism. Fig. 3 is a View ofa modification.

The reference-letter 0. represents a tapering body portion having acentral passage b formed therein. In this passage a valve-seat c isformed. The passage extends on beyond the valve-seat to the small end ofthe body, but is considerably reduced in size.

Formed in the upper end of the passage 1) is an enlarged recess d,having internal screwthreads formed therein. Fitting in this recess is ascrew cap or nut e, which is correspondingly threaded and may beadjusted in the recess by means of the usual slot f, formed on its upperside. A central hole or passage 9 is made in the cap 8 and flaringoutwardly to form a second valve-seat, which may be used in conjunctionwith an upwardly-seating valve, if desired. A11 indentation or recess his formed on the lower side of this nut, which receives the upper end ofa coil-spring This spring is confined between the cap 6 and the valve j,which is seated upwardly on the seat a. The valvej is made of a metallicbody portion j, having formed in its end an internally-threaded recess9' into which the rubber cap 7.; is screwed.

In order to make the valve as durable as possible, the face which comesin contact with the seat is made convex or hemispherical and the seat 0is concaved to correspond therewith. It will be seen that the harderthis valve is pressed down on its seat the greater will be itseffectiveness in closing the reduced portion 0 of the vent-channel. Byhaving a stem 7' and socket j the valve proper j will not be as muchchafed and worn by constant use as those formerly in use, wherein thevalve-stem passed through the rubber, but will expand laterally andbetter perform its functions.

Secured to the upper end of the metallic body j is a rod or stem Z,which extends upwardly through the spring '0' and projects above the cap6. This rod has formed on its end an eye Z, by which it is secured tothe actuating-lever m. In the side of the recess 01 is cut an opening11., having flanges or projections 0 located on each side. Between theseflanges is fulcrumed the lever m. This lever is of the first class andhas formed on its short arm a hook 0, which is adapted to enter the eyeZ of the valve-rod. The long arm of the lever m is of an unusual lengthand has formed on one side a series of indentations m, which are adaptedto receive the thumb-screw p of the pendent operating-section q. An eyeq, formed on the upper end of this section, embraces the lever m, andthrough the medium of the thumb-screw p and indentations q an effectivepivotal connection between the two is made.

Assuming that the cask is in an ice-box, as shown in Fig. 1, and that itis desired to draw off a quantity of beer, the faucet is opened; but byreason of a vacuum being formed in the cask the beer will not flow out.The section g, which hangs over the side of the icebox, by means ofthumb-ring s is then pulled down, and through the medium of lever m thevalve is lifted from its seat and a quantity of air admitted into thecask. As soon as the air enters the cask the beer begins to flow out ofthe faucet. This How is, however, immediately checked when the valve isallowed vto close. This operation is founded on a well-known principleand needs no further description.

The amount of beer drawn may be regulated entirely by the vent-plug; butit may be best to keep the faucet closed when not in use to prevent anypossible loss.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 illustrates my plug applied to anordinary beer-cask not in an ice-box. In such a case the long levers arenot necessary, as the operator may easily reach the plug without the useof such levers. A short lever 'r, provided with an operatingring 1", isused in place of the lever m.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a vent-plug containing a central vent-channelhaving a reduced portion, of a valve located in the channel and providedwith a stem, a threaded socket portion attached to the inner end of thestem, a spring for normally holding the valve in closed adjustment, thevalve proper being composed of elastic material formed with a convexwearing-surface, and a shank adapted to enter said threaded socket, anda concaved seat surrounding the throat of the reduced part of thechannel, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRIEDERICH W. POLLE.

Witnesses:

RHESA G. DU Bow, 1. B. OWENS.

